Democrats plan House vote Tuesday on measure to stop Trump's declaration of emergency at the border

President Trump declared a national emergency to free up funding for his border wall between the U.S and Mexico. But declaring a national emergency isn’t new -- in fact, the use of emergency powers is older than the country itself.
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WASHINGTON – The House plans to vote Tuesday on a resolution to try to block President Donald Trump's declaration of an emergency along the southern border, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday.

"The president of the United States is declaring a national emergency to honor an applause line in a rally," Pelosi said on a conference call with reporters Friday morning.

"Not only is he disrespecting the legislative branch and the Constitution of the United States, he is dishonoring the office in which he serves," said the California Democrat, who spoke from the border city of Laredo, Texas.

Democrats have called the declaration an overreach of Trump's power and have vowed to fight it. Their resolution, if it passed both chambers of Congress, would terminate the emergency declaration. But even if Congress approves it, the president could veto it.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump vowed to veto the resolution “100 percent.”

“And I don’t think it survives a veto,” the president predicted.

Pelosi said the resolution would come up in the House Rules Committee Monday night and then likely be brought to the floor on Tuesday.

House Democrats introduced the resolution Friday. As of Friday morning it had more than 225 co-sponsors, according to lead sponsor Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas. The bill had one GOP co-sponsor, Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan.

"This is a historic power grab and it will require historic unity by members of Congress – Republican and Democrat, liberal and conservative – to counteract the president’s parasitic movement," Castro said.

He and Pelosi said they were trying to recruit Republicans to sign onto the bill.

The bill is expected to pass the Democratic-controlled House, but its future is uncertain in the Republican-held Senate. However, unlike most legislation, the resolution is rooted in a provision from the National Emergencies Act that would require it to be voted upon within 18 calendar days after it is introduced and then be sent to the Senate.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington Jan. 31, 2019. Pelosi urged members to join in backing a resolution to halt the national emergency.(Photo: Michael Reynolds, epa-efe)

Normally, if Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell doesn't want to bring legislation from the House to the floor he can block it from getting a vote. But once this bill passes the House – which is it expected to do – the Senate will have to take it up within 18 days of receiving it.

Many Republicans have said they were uncomfortable with the president declaring a national emergency to get funding for a wall along the southern border, but it's unclear whether they would vote for such an effort.

A copy of the one-page resolution was sent out by Pelosi late Wednesday to all members of the House, where she urged them to join in backing the move.

"All Members take an oath of office to support and defend the Constitution," Pelosi said in her letter. "The President’s decision to go outside the bounds of the law to try to get what he failed to achieve in the constitutional legislative process violates the Constitution and must be terminated. We have a solemn responsibility to uphold the Constitution, and defend our system of checks and balances against the President’s assault."

"This is not about politics, it's not about partisanship. It's about patriotism. That's why I wrote a letter about this resolution, Mr. Castro's resolution, to all members 'Dear colleague' not 'Dear Democratic colleague,'" Pelosi said Friday.

White House officials have said the emergency declaration and other budget maneuvers would free up an additional $6.6 billion, which would build at least 234 miles of border wall.

Along with Congress moving to void the order, the move has also drawn a number of legal challenges in court.

Sixteen states already filed a lawsuit over Trump's emergency declaration, arguing it exceeds the power of the president and unconstitutionally redirects federal money that Congress had set aside for other purposes.

In addition to the resolution, Pelosi Friday did not rule out committee chairmen filing lawsuits over the wall.

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif, addresses demonstrators at a rally on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall against President Trump's declaration of national emergency to build a border wall. ROBERT HANASHIRO, USA TODAY

Elizabeth Tinker carries a banner while marching as part of the National Day of Action against President Donald Trump's "National Emergency" at the Wayne State University campus in Detroit. Ryan Garza, USA TODAY NETWORK

A Trump supporter holding an American flag confronts a security guard as Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) addresses demonstrators on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall. The crowd was gathered to protest against President Trump's declaration of emergency to build a border wall. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

Sandra Vaughn leads others on a march through the campus of Wayne State University in Detroit while participating in a rally as part of the National Day of Action against President Donald Trump's "National Emergency". Ryan Garza, USA TODAY NETWORK

A demonstrator holds a sign during a demonstration organized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) protesting President Trump's declaration of emergency powers outside of The White House in Washington. Zach Gibson, Getty Images

Cathy Clark holds a sign and yells during a protest in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. People gathered on the Presidents Day holiday to protest President Trump's recent national emergency declaration. LM Otero, AP

Protestors march down Vine Street on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, in Cincinnati, in response to President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration. The protests are opposing the order signed Friday that freed up billions to construct a wall along the southern U.S. border with Mexico. ORG XMIT: OHCIN104 (Via OlyDrop) Albert Cesare / USA TODAY Network

Protestors march down Vine Street on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, in Cincinnati, in response to President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration. The protests are opposing the order signed Friday that freed up billions to construct a wall along the southern U.S. border with Mexico. ORG XMIT: OHCIN104 (Via OlyDrop) Albert Cesare / USA TODAY Network

Protestors march down Garfield Place on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, in Cincinnati, in response to President Donald Trump's national emergency declaration. The protests are opposing the order signed Friday that freed up billions to construct a wall along the southern U.S. border with Mexico. ORG XMIT: OHCIN104 (Via OlyDrop) Albert Cesare / USA TODAY Network

People protest against US President Donald Trumps national emergency declaration near the White House on February 18, 2019 in Washington,DC. - The event is part of a national mobilization effort with protests to be held throughout the country. US President Trump on February 15, 2019 invoked a "national emergency" to justify tapping military and other funds for barrier construction, after Congress approved less than a fourth the $5.7 billion he had sought for border security. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1DL279 BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, AFP/Getty Images

People walk past an activist dressed as President Trump as others gather for a President's Day protest against US President Donald Trump immigration policy in Lafayette Square near the White House in Washington. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, AFP/Getty Images